Ministry set to announce new TV broadcast rights deal, believed to be worth about $2 billion
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NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting (I&B) minister
is likely to take a view on the contentious issue of whether to proceed with monetizing
the crime investigations in the country though selling of broadcasting rights
of all information related to the case.
The high cost involved in the case of Sheena Bora murder
including air travel of her un-extended family has been an eye opener. The
ruling party has agreed to bring a bill in the parliament to allow provision
for self-financing of such investigations.
A well-informed source in the ministry said that many options has been
considered and zeroed down on auctioning of the broadcasting rights.
Sources say the Government is ready with a draft on One Crime
One Sponsorship (OCOS) scheme in addition to annual broadcasting rights. These
could be rolled out as early as January 2016 to take advantage of the usual high
crime rates during the New Year revelations.
A general consensus exists on this among the politicians in
principle including those who never had any principle. The politicians seem to
have agreed to end this injustice where the government spends all the money to
carry out the investigations while the media makes the money. “Humko to kya
milta hai? Babjee ka thullu!” exasperated one of the senior leaders.
Sources said that the decision would depend on government's
view on "economics of offence''. A police sources has also informed “we
are holding back on taking action on numerous other cases dating back to 2013, till
the government finalize the broadcasting rights issue.”
Stars TV, is believed to be aggressively lobbying to win the
broadcasting rights that is expected to start in 2016 and run for at least five
years. The deal, which also includes internet and mobile rights, was valued at
Rs 13340 crores (approximately $2 billion) by some experts.
Although the parliament has to formally ratify this, there
has been high level of enthusiasm amongst the lawmakers. Senior leader, Mr.
Hardik Kumar, commented “ Humra rajya ko sabse zyada munafa hoga...aur is amdani
se ...hum pichrapan bhi hata payenge!”.
A hilarious take!
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